Joel Hanna

"My father is from Iraq so I felt like of all people -- being American and having a father from there -- I should be involved in some way."

Introductory Profile: About Joel M. Hanna

My interviewee is Joel Hanna, age 32. When I was first assigned this project I asked my 28 year old sister for help. She then asked her friend, Joel, if I could interview him, and he said yes. A couple of weeks later, on March 14, we met up with him for lunch. He arrived wearing a white shirt and dark jeans. I started of the interview asking him why he chose to join the military his response was intriguing, since his father is from Iraq he felt the need to help out, along with wanting to try something new. During the interview he talked about some of the challenges he had to overcome, and how this affected his life in both a positive and negative way, all while maintaining a light and fun mood throughout the whole interview.

Joel Hanna, served during the Iraq War, that lasted from 2003 to 2011. During those years Joel served twice, once during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and another during Operation Enduring Freedom. He served in 2008 through 2009 in Operation Iraqi Freedom and spent 2010 through 2011 serving in Operation Enduring Freedom. During his years he spent most of his time working in the operation center and overseeing different operations in a 12-hour shift. He would spend his free time sleeping, eating and working out.

Throughout the rest of the interview I asked questions relating to his first thoughts once arriving and adapting to this new environment all the way to how his perspective on life changed, once coming back to normal civilian life. All through the interview he maintained a light and fun mood.